Can a passion cultivated from an early age become a job? Yes, if you have a talent like hers. Aurelio Mazzara is 36 years old and is a cartoonist from Palermo. Our Customers told how Disney chose two of his designs for the launch of a new Spiderman. But we couldn't not know him better and let his voice tell us how this passion was born, and how he made it his job. From Palermo he went to the conquest of New York, starting collaborations with the great American comics companies. A passion, in fact, that Aurelio had since he was a child, a deep love for drawing and for superheroes.
Aurelio Mazzara and his passion for drawing
"My mother often tells how it all began - says Aurelio -. I was three when I started copying the drawings from the magazines. It was my favorite entertainment. The others played, especially I drew. And at the age of six I was already writing some stories, photocopying the drawings I made and then selling them to family members. Two - three copies like this to make my jobs known".
The school of comics and Aurelio Mazzara's training
Something then changed with the approach to the Palermo School of Comics, which was the basis of Aurelio Mazzara's training. The school, a branch of that of Milan, had many teachers and experts in the sector. "I decided to subscribe - underlines Aurelio Mazzara - but having already the basics I started from the second year. But it was a fundamental step because I learned the secrets of this work, to refine the techniques, to learn new things". In the meantime, however, Aurelio continued to do other jobs. "On a professional level - adds - I made for the Dinofroz comic stories are precious games and with that experience I started to approach an editor, to respect the times, often very tight, for the delivery of the drawings".
The meeting in New York with Marvel
But Aurelio had not abandoned the idea of disegnare his favorite superheroes. And in fact after finishing school, he decided to go to New York at Comic Con to bring to the editors of Marvel and the Disney his works. And in fact shortly thereafter he was called by Ape Enterteinment and Dreamworks selected it to make Kung fu Panda and then Hero Within and Fruit ninja. Finally at Disney for Cars. And after he finished his stint at IDW with the video game-inspired Skylander he stopped. In the meantime, in fact, his son was born and the need for a more stable job prompted him to stop for a while and to change jobs. But he never gave up on his passion.
"I started working in my family's company - says Aurelio - but then a call came. The editor I had worked with for Kung fu panda contacted me. He knew about my passion for ninja turtles and told me he had a job he wanted me to do". Aurelio then started working at night, during breaks, to deliver the tables on time “when the work was not perfect - he explains-. This term is used in the sector and it was a great satisfaction to be able to complete everything within the required time frame ”.
The passion for Spiderman, the new stories and comics about Neymar jr
But his passion for superheroes and Marvel remained. "I was contacted by Marvel because they were interested in offering me stories starring Spiderman - stresses-. They were called the "Bedtime Stories", stories to be read in five minutes. And from there I continued to work with them for two years. And then also on the comics of Neymar jr". Until the turning point a few weeks ago with the Disney.
Disney and future projects: a Sicilian superhero
Aurelio Mazzara then accidentally discovered that some of his drawings had been chosen by Disney for a superhero. This represents today, the daily life of Aurelio Mazzara. But he has a dream in the drawer that he hopes to be able to realize soon: to draw and write a story about a Sicilian superhero. "The idea is there - observes the cartoonist from Palermo - but I would like to contextualize it well in an environment and make it credible. A true story. I'm working on it and I hope it can materialize soon".
The techniques used for his work
Aurelio Mazzara composes his masterpieces by working in his home studio. He works using digital, even if he prefers to draw on paper. "I found a compromise - Aurelio explains - I make a sketch on paper and then bring it back to digital. And then there are many innovative techniques". Aurelio working at home and also has close contact with his son. And who knows that a passion for drawing may also arise in him and follow in the footsteps of his father. “My son likes it - underlines the cartoonist - because if he knows a character he asks me something. But that's not what I was at his age. And that's right. Everyone must find his own way ".
